NZAU MUSAU
Africa-Press – Kenya. Last weekend, CNN journalist Larry Madowo united Kenyans for a good cause.
A video clip he shot of a nondescript Kenyan VIP’s car dangerously and forcefully overlapping in traffic went viral.
Caught on camera, the VIP and his driver derogatively dared Madowo to report their misbehaviour to President William Ruto, the Commander-in-Chief of Kenya’s armed forces.
It later turned out that the VIP in the clip was a venerable state officer, honourable member of Parliament Peter Orero. Oddly, he initiated the “peleka kwa Ruto” chorus against Madowo.
Picking the cue from his boss, his driver, George Oduor, underlined the scornful “peleka kwa Ruto” remarks, spicing them with a “taka taka (garbage)” remark.
With those statements, the MP and his driver underscored their collective disdain for the sovereign. They not only did not have any regard for Wanjiku and the law, they did not respect the Head of State.
To them, impunity is a way of life and nothing, nobody, including the symbol of the nation’s unity, can separate them from it.
With reckless abandon, Kenyans descended on the pair. They set out to demonstrate who between them and Madowo was a piece(s) of garbage.
Kenyans deployed technology to the mission, portraying the two in all manner of undesirables. The pictures of the incident were edited and the MP and his driver’s heads replaced with heads of cows, goats, swine, donkeys and snakes, to mention but a few.
Despite enduring this kind of impunity on a daily scale, Kenyans were unanimous in their disapproval. From the depictions and comments, it was clear Kenyans do not condone such conduct, least when it is rubbed in condescendingly.
Within days, the “small man” in the act, the driver, was arraigned in court over a traffic misdemeanour and fined. The “big man”, the MP, however, got away with the leadership and integrity infractions that surrounded the whole saga.
As of Tuesday this week, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s head was still buried in the sand. There is a snowball in hell chance that the MP will be held to account over his conduct.
There are important lessons to pick from this debacle. First, while the outpouring remonstration against the pair’s conduct is important, Kenyans need to do more than caricature such behaviour.
To stop the scourge of impunity, Kenyans must take bold, practical steps to confront such conduct as Madowo did. It requires both courage and conviction to take on the powerful and those who consider themselves mighty.
Two, isolated acts like Madowo’s are good insofar as they trigger greater social consciousness. However, the scale and consistency with which we reprimand such conduct is what creates meaningful impact.
Three, we should worry when for days on end we are discussing a single incident of this kind. Appreciating the extent of the scourge of impunity, it is inconceivable to imagine the incident was the only such conduct we have witnessed on our roads over this period.
We must then want to grow a critical mass of Kenyans as conscious, as courageous and as committed to confront impunity as Madowo. Ultimately, the goal should be to generate multitudes of countrymen and women committed to civil conduct.
Four, I have heard women warning fellow women about men. Their common refrain is that “men will always embarrass you”. I want to borrow this frame to warn fellow commoners about the distinctive character of the elite:
The moment you allow the elite to carry you along in their mischief, be prepared to carry the cross on their behalf when caught. Verily, you do not matter that much to them.
There are so many of you who are available for their bidding. When push comes to shove, they will drop you like a hot potato.
Besides, you and your ilk will suffer the most from entrenched chaos. Your best safety lies in civil conduct and promotion of order in the polity.
Source: The Star
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